Current feed for electrolytic apparatus



CURRENT FEED FOR ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS Filed Aug. 17, 1932 Patented Feb. 19, 1935 I v A UNITED s rains LSAT'ENT OFFICE \J Jean Billiter, Vienna, Austria, assignbr to Copper-weld Steel Gompany, Glassport, Pa.

Application August 11, 1932, Serial No. 629,114

. In Germany August 25, 1931 i i 6 Claims. 01. 201- I My invention relates to the electrolytic deporectionfof travel, which is obviously important in sition of metals on wires, rods, tubes or strips the case of tubes, thick wires or the like. and more especially to means for feeding the cur- In a preferred form of myv invention I enclose rent to the cathodes. the conductor serving as current feed in a non- 5 It is an object of my invention to provide conductive-casing provided with an inlet and outmeans whereby the electric current can be fed to let for the cathode, compressed air being forced the wires, rods, tubes 'or' strips travelling in or intoand pa'ssedthrough this casing in order to through the electrolyte in a simpler and more eifiprevent the entrance of the electrolyte. In order cient manner than was hitherto possible. to enable any electrolyte which might stillenter v 10 In the art of depositing metals by electrolytic the casing to be expelled again, I may provide in action on wires, rods, tubes or strips, these wires the bottom of the casing a sump having a narrow etc. are commonly connected as cathodes and opening, through which any; liquid, which may caused to travel in or through the electrolyte in have entered the casing togetherwith the cathode axial direction. In this manner metal cathodes will be expelled by the action of the compressed and more especially steel or lead wires or tubes air.

have been coated with coatingsor jackets of cop- In the drawing "aiiixed to this specification and per, nickel or the like. If readily fusible metals, forming part'thereof two forms of current feeds c such as lead, are thus coated, these metals can embodying mv invention are illustrated diagrambe removed from the finished product by applymatically by way of example. an ing heat and melting and the elctrolytideposit In the drawing, remaining over will then form a tube. In p'rod- Fig. 1 is an axial section of two electrolytic nets of this kind it is important to produce metal cells arranged in series with a wire-, rodor tubedeposits having an absolutely uniform thickness shaped cathode travelling lengthwise through and in order to attain this I have suggested in both these cells in the axial direction. 35 my copending application for patent of the Fig. 2 is an axial section and United States of America, Serial No. 501,569, to Fig. 3 is a cross section of part of an electrolytic cause the lengthwise travellingwire, tube or the cell, drawn to a larger scale, which is also travlike to simultaneously revolve about its axis. ersed by a wireor'tube-shaped cathode andtin In all these cases considerable difilculties .are which the current is fed to the cathode by means experienced in maintaining a uniformlcurrent of current feeding means submerged in the elecdensity in the portion of the wire, tube or the trolyte. like, which is exposed to the electrolyte. with -Referring to the drawing and more particuelectrolytic cells of greater length and also with larly to Fig. l, 1 and 2 are the two cells and 3 are thin cathodes of inferior conductivity the arthe anodes suspended therein. 4 are stufiing rangement of current feeds in front and to the boxes mounted in openings of the end walls of, rear of the cell doesnot suilice in view of the the cells and 5 is a wireor rod-shaped metal drop of voltage arising in the cell and it is therecathode forced or pulled across the cells'by-suitfore necessary to employ intermediate current ,able means (not shown), this cathode entering feeds contacting with thatportion of the cathode and leaving each cell through the stufiing boxes'4. 40 wire or tube which is submerged in the electro- Current is fed to the cathode by means of conlyte. These intermediate current feeds involve ductors 6, one of which is'arranged in front of the drawback that the metal deposited in the the first cell, another one being disposed between electrolyte will cover and coat also the current the two cells, while a third one is arranged to feeding means, thereby causing disturbances and the rear of the second cell. Each conductor is rendering necessiy a repeated replacing of the provided with a pair of rollers 'l which partly current feeding eans. I succeed in avoiding embrace the cathode, which is thus supplied with these drawbacks by providing intermediate curcurrent below the level of the electrolyte in the rent feeding means which do notcome in direct cells, so that any necesity of changing the direccontact with the electrolyte, being disposed in tion of travel of the cathode is avoided. separate air spaces below the level of the liquid Obviously the rolls '1 or one of them may be in the cell. I thus .ayoid any undesirable deposiapplied against the cathode by gravity action or ticn of metal on the conductive part-.pf'the curby spring action. Any number of cells mayi'be: rent feeding means and I thereby render .it posprovided and current may besupplied to the sible to pass the wire, tube, strip or the like cathode, in the manner described, between each i through the cell without any change in the (11- two cells.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, 1 is the cell, 3 are anodes and 5 is the cathode. 8 is a tubular casing of inverted T-section, the horizontal branch of which surrounds part of the cathode wire or tube in the electrolyte with a clearance, while the vertical part of the casing extends upwardly through and beyond the level of the electrolyte. The ends 9 of the horizontal branch of the casing taper so as -to closely surround the cathode without however preventing it from travelling freely in axial direction. The part of' the vertical branch of the casing which extends above the liquid level is provided with a feed tube 10 to be supplied with compressed air. In the ascending branch is disposed the current feed proper having the form of a conductor 11, the bottom end of which rests with the roller 12 on the cathode, while a pressure spring 13 interposed between the cap 14 closing the vertical branch of the casing and the top end of the conductor 11 forces the roller 12 into intimate contact with the cathode. 15 is an extension mounted on the bottom of the casing 8 and formed with a narrow open neck 16. The compressed air entering through pipe 10 and filling the easing 8 prevents the electrolyte from entering the casing through the gaps existing between its end sleeves 9 and the cathode. Any liquid which may nevertheless enter the casing or which may drip onto the casing bottom from the wet cathode passing through the casing will collect in the extension 15 and will be expelled through the neck 16 by the action of the compressed air.

Instead of supplying the casing with compressed air to avoid the entrance of liquid, the part of the casing extending above the level of the liquid might also be open to the air, however in this case the extension 15 should extend to and through an opening in the side wall or bottom of the cell in order to allow any liquid which may have entered the casing to escape without coming in contact with the current feeding means.

Instead of supplying current to the cathode in front and to the rear of and between the cells, I may also feed current to the cathode in the cell itself without resorting to the casing 8, by arranging in the cell one or a plurality of pairs of partitions, a chamber devoid of liquid being created between the partitions of each pair and current being fed to the cathode between these partitions.

Obviously current feeding means such as disclosed in Figs. 2 and 3 might also be used in connection with cathodes submerged in the electrolyte, which are stationary in the axial direction, being either immovable or merely revolving about their axis.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

In the claims afllxed to this specification no selection of any particular modification of the invention is intended to the exclusion of other modifications thereof and the right to subsequently make claim to any modification not covered by these claims is expressly reserved.

I claim:

1. Electrolytic apparatus comprising a cell, a body of electrolyte in said cell, a cathode submerged in the electrolyte and'means extending into said electrolyte for feeding current to and contacting with said cathode, said means being out of contact with said body of electrolyte at its point of contact with said cathode.

2. Electrolytic apparatus comprising a cell, a body of electrolyte in said cell, a cathode submerged in said electrolyte, a conductor extending throughsaid electrolyte and in contact with said cathode, a casing surrounding said conductor and the adjoining part of said cathode with a clearance and means associated with said casing for preventing liquid entering said casing from coming in contact with the contact end of said conductor.

3; Electrolytic apparatus comprising a cell, a body of electrolyte in said cell, a cathode submerged in said electrolyte, a conductor extending through said electrolyte and in contact with said cathode, a casing surrounding said conductor and the adjoining part of said cathode with a clearance and means for supplying a compressed gas to said casing.

4. Electrolytic apparatus comprising a cell, a body of electrolyte in said cell, a cathode submerged in said electrolyte, a conductor extending through said electrolyte and in contact with said cathode, a casing surrounding said conductor and the adjoining part of said cathode with a clearance and means for collecting any liquid which maystill have entered said casing.

5. Electrolytic apparatus comprising a cell, a body of electrolyte in said cell, a cathode submerged in and travelling axially through said body of electrolyte, a casing of inverted T-section, embracing said cathode with a clearance and extending beyond the level of the electrolyte, a conductor in said casing, means for forcing said con.- ductor in contact with said cathode and means for supplying a compressed gas to said casing.

6. Electrolytic apparatus comprising a cell, a body of electrolyte in said cell, a cathode submerged in the electrolyte, and means extending into said electrolyte and contacting with said cathode for feeding current to said cathode, said means being entirely out of. contact with said body of electrolyte.

JEAN BILLITER. 

